18/12/2025

THURSDAY | DEC 18, 2025

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Tighter platform rules may reshape online discourse

though we had done our research.” Meanwhile, a mother and legal assistant from Subang Jaya, Malathy Arumugam, 49, said some level of regulation was necessary to protect children online. “I think some regulations are helpful for filtering harmful content or preventing contact with strangers. But I don’t want them to be so strict that my child feels unable to express themselves or interact naturally with friends. “If platforms become too controlling, children might hide what they’re doing or move to apps we don’t know about.” – By Faiz Ruzman Free language classes to strengthen unity SHAH ALAM: An initiative by the Selangor state government to offer free online foreign language classes starting next year is being viewed as a strategic step to strengthen human capital and foster racial unity among the state’s diverse population. Selangor state executive councillor for rural development, unity and consumer affairs Datuk Rizam Ismail said the initiative announced by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, reflected Selangor’s demographic reality and the growing need to master multiple languages in a globalised world. He noted that proficiency in foreign languages such as Mandarin and Arabic was becoming increasingly important for communication, business and employment opportunities, offering long-term benefits to the people of Selangor. “This free online foreign language class initiative is a very good step because it helps the community become more aware and skilled in various languages, especially in the context of Selangor, which is one of the main drivers of national development,” he told Bernama. Rizam was responding to Amirudin’s announcement on Sunday that the Selangor government would introduce free online foreign language classes from next year as part of efforts to strengthen multilingual skills and promote unity. Amirudin said the approach demonstrated the state government’s confidence in language proficiency as a tool to help Malaysia compete globally. He added that by offering free classes in Arabic, Mandarin, Tamil, French, German and Spanish, the state hoped Selangor residents would be fluent in at least three languages in addition to Malay and English. Rizam stressed that Malay would remain the national language and the primary language to be mastered by all levels of society, but learning additional languages was also important in fostering unity and mutual respect among different races. He said the state’s effort to provide free access to language learning underscored Selangor’s commitment to developing competitive human capital while positioning language as a medium for strengthening unity.

PETALING Consumer advocates and experts have warned that Malaysia’s move to place major social media and internet messaging platforms more firmly under local regulation could have indirect effects on users, activists and online discourse. Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Mohamad Sirajuddin Jalil warned that the regulatory shift could place indirect pressure on social media users. “This can indirectly put pressure back on social media users, including those who run businesses or are active online. Certain common features on platforms may change, and these are things we may not immediately realise. “We also do not know how social media companies themselves will react. These platforms understand consumer trends very well. They may use public sentiment as a reason to push back against the government by framing changes as something that affects users.” Sirajuddin noted that social media platforms host a wide range of activist voices, which could be affected even if restrictions are not explicitly targeted at expression. “There are many activist accounts. Some of these are very vocal and brave in expressing their views and opinions. When a regulatory body like the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission imposes restrictions on platforms, this will inevitably affect how these voices operate, even if that is not the stated intention.” JAYA: o Experts say enforcement could influence user behaviour even without explicit curbs in speech Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

standpoint, Malaya cybersecurity specialist Prof Dr Ainuddin Wahid Abdul Wahab said the deeming approach effectively closes registration loopholes. “Technically, it works because it avoids bureaucratic delays and ensures platforms with eight million users are immediately subject to the Act. “To avoid legal action, platforms may moderate content more aggressively in line with international practices. While the intention is to enhance safety, there is also a possibility that platforms may remove borderline content simply to ensure their compliance record remains free of any legal breaches.” Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara media communication expert Assoc Prof Dr Tengku Elena Tengku Mahamad said the regulatory move was more likely to influence behaviour subtly. “Even without new content restrictions, the move signals a clearer regulatory presence, which can influence how users think about visibility, accountability and risk. This often leads to more deliberate communication, especially on sensitive or controversial topics. “Perceptions of tighter oversight could also encourage self censorship driven by caution rather than enforcement. “For journalists and activists, the effects are more likely to be indirect rather than immediate. When platforms operate under clearer regulatory expectations, they may naturally take a more cautious approach to moderation as part of managing legal and reputational concerns.” On Monday, MCMC announced that from January next year, social media platforms with eight million or more users in Malaysia will be deemed registered under an Applications Service Provider Class licence through a provision in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The commission said the deeming provision allows qualifying platforms to be treated as licensed service providers for regulatory and enforcement purposes without a formal registration process. Universiti

different. For us, freedom of speech must be guided by decency and morality, as reflected in the Rukun Negara. “And so, any law that is created must not be abused politically. Politicians must remember that laws they pass today will also apply to them in the future. “Good policy must also come with good messaging. Without clear communication, people will misunderstand and that opens the door to conspiracy theories, fake news and political exploitation.” From a technical and governance

He stressed that while MCCA supports policies aimed at user safety, it does not take a deferential position towards government action. On freedom of expression, Sirajuddin said definitions must reflect Malaysia’s social and cultural context. “Freedom of speech is a subjective concept and it depends on how society understands it. You cannot apply the same definition of freedom of speech in Malaysia as in the US. “Our culture and social values are

Regulatory shift could influence how users communicate PETALING JAYA: Young users, content creators and parents are divided over whether tighter regulation of major social media platforms will improve online safety or restrict freedom of expression, with many saying the impact will depend on how the rules are enforced and communicated. genuinely harmful content like scams, abuse or misinformation. But there’s also a risk platforms may over moderate to avoid regulatory issues. “For me, the concern isn’t regulation itself but whether there are clear safeguards to prevent excessive censorship,” she told theSun. remove posts too quickly to avoid trouble and people may feel afraid to speak openly. Freedom of speech needs clear rules and fair enforcement. “Fear of misunderstanding or punishment can make users limit what they say, which reduces open discussion,” he added. taking away freedom of speech,” he said. From a content creator’s perspective, video editor for a local online portal Muhammad Faiz Naqiuddin, 29, said moderation systems were already imperfect.

“In some ways, it helps prevent false or misleading information from spreading across social media, ensuring only genuine and well researched posts are published. But it also gives platforms too much power to take down content. “For example, one of our company’s posts was removed on TikTok due to mass reporting even

A human resource executive from Petaling Jaya, Low Yee Dan, 25, said anonymity on social media was crucial to free expression. “Social media is the only place where people can express views without fear of backlash because they are not identified. Taking that away is

A public sector staff member from Puncak Alam, Muhammad Imran Fahmi, 25, echoed similar concerns, noting that stricter legal control could affect how openly people speak online. “When laws give wide power to control online content, platforms may

A public relations associate from Kuala Lumpur, Deena Azuar, 26, said regulation itself was not her main concern. “I think it could affect freedom of speech depending on how it’s implemented. Clearer regulation may improve accountability and reduce